Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers

Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: INTRODUCTION TO UNITS AND THE S.I. SYSTEM

● Physics = study of natural phenomena, which includes lots of measurements & equations! Physics = Math + Rules
- In nature, we measure physical quantities (mass, length…), which must have ______________ & ___________
(Example: You measure the mass of a box)

__________ ______________
[Number] [Unit]

● For physics equations to work, ALL units in it must be _______________ with each other.
- Groups of compatible units that “work together” form a ____________ of units.
- In Physics, always use S.I. units ( Système International )

Quantity S.I. Imperial Force = Mass × Acceleration

MASS Kilogram [ ] Pound [ lb ] 𝑭 = 𝒎 × 𝒂
LENGTH Meter [ ] Foot [ ft ]
TIME Second [ ] Second [ s ] [ ]=[ ]× [ ] → [ COMPATIBLE | INCOMPATIBLE ]
FORCE Newton [ ] Foot-pound [ ]=[ ]× [ ] → [ COMPATIBLE | INCOMPATIBLE ]

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: METRIC PREFIXES

[Base Unit] [Prefixes]

● A metric prefix is a letter or symbol that goes before a base unit: m, g, s → km, ,mg, 𝝁s,

- Each letter / prefix stands for a specific power of 10 multiplied by the base unit.
Example: 5 km = _______________ m = __________ m
4.6 ms = _______________ s = __________ s

Bigger Units

● ● ● 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟎. 𝟏 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏 ● ● ●

𝟏𝟐 𝟗 𝟑 𝟏 −𝟏 −𝟑 −𝟔 −𝟗
𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟔 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟐 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 = 𝟏
𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 −𝟐 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐

tera- giga- mega- kilo- hecto- deca- [Base Unit] deci- centi- milli- micro- nano- pico-
(T) (G) (M) (k) (h) (da) (d) (c) (m) (𝜇) (n) (p)

Smaller Units

EXAMPLE: Express the following measurements using the desired prefix.

STEPS
a) 6.5 hm to m 1) Identify starting & target prefixes
2) Move from start → target,
count # of exponents moved
3) Shift decimal place in the same
direction moved in Step 2
b) 3.89 mm to m

c) 7.62 kg to 𝜇g

● When re-writing numbers with metric prefixes,

- Shifting from a bigger to smaller unit, number becomes [ LARGER | SMALLER ]
- Shifting from a smaller to bigger unit, number becomes [ LARGER | SMALLER ]

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: The earth’s circumference is approximately 40.1 Mm (megameters). What is this circumference in kilometers?

A) 0.0401 km
B) 40,100,000 km
C) 40,100 km
D) 0.00401 km

● ● ● 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟎. 𝟏 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏 ● ● ●

𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟎𝟗 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝟏𝟎𝟐 𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 𝟏 𝟏𝟎−𝟏 𝟏𝟎−𝟐 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐

tera- giga- mega- kilo- hecto- deca- [Base Unit] deci- centi- milli- micro- nano- pico-

(T) (G) (M) (k) (h) (da) (d) (c) (m) (𝜇) (n) (p)

PRACTICE: Astronomers often detect radio waves with wavelengths of 3,000,000,000 nm. What is this wavelength
expressed in decameters (dam)?

A) 3 dam
B) 0.3 dam
C) 30 dam
D) 0.03 dam

● ● ● 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎 𝟎. 𝟏 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏 ● ● ●

𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 𝟏𝟎𝟗 𝟏𝟎𝟔 𝟏𝟎𝟑 𝟏𝟎𝟐 𝟏𝟎𝟏 𝟏𝟎𝟎 = 𝟏 𝟏𝟎−𝟏 𝟏𝟎−𝟐 𝟏𝟎−𝟑 𝟏𝟎−𝟔 𝟏𝟎−𝟗 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐

tera- giga- mega- kilo- hecto- deca- [Base Unit] deci- centi- milli- micro- nano- pico-

(T) (G) (M) (k) (h) (da) (d) (c) (m) (𝜇) (n) (p)

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: SCIENTIFIC NOTATION

● We use Scientific Notation to ________________ very LONG, inconvenient numbers into SHORTER ones.

General Format for Scientific Notation

Mass of Earth = 5,972,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kg
𝐀. 𝐁𝐂 × 𝟏𝟎𝐃
= _________________
[ # ≥ ___ but < ___ ] [ _________ ]

STANDARD FORM → SCIENTIFIC NOTATION Standard Form → Scientific Notation

1) Move decimal to get # ≥ 1 but < 10
a) 304,605.27 kg
2) Round long numbers with many non-zero
numbers to 2 decimal places
3) # of decimal places moved = Exponent
- If original number > 10, exponent is +
b) 0.000102 m - If original number < 1, exponent is –

c) 7 s

Standard Form
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION → STANDARD FORM
→ Scientific Scientific Notation → Standard Form
Notation 1) Exponent = # of decimal places moved
a)1)5.45×10 8 kg
Move decimal to - If exponent is +, number becomes larger
get # ≥ 1 but < 10 - If exponent is –, number becomes smaller
2) Round to 2 places,
if needed
b)3)9.62×10
# of decimals places
-5

moved = Exponent
- If original number
> 10, exponent is +
- If original number
a) 5.45×10
< 1, 2 kg
exponent is –
a) 304,605.27 kg

b) 9.62×10-5 s
b) 0.000102 m

c) 38,900 s Page 4
Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: Rewrite 0.00016 kg in scientific notation.

A) 1.6×10-4 kg
B) 16×10-3 kg
C) 1.6×104 kg
D) 1.6×10-3 kg

PRACTICE: Rewrite 299,800,000 m/s in scientific notation.

A) 2.998×105 m/s
B) 3.00×108 m/s
C) 3.00×105 m/s
D) 2.998×10-8 m/s

EXAMPLE: Express 0.0000529 × 10−6 m in scientific notation.

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: Rewrite 3.41 × 10−4 in standard form:

A) 0.000341
B) 34,100
C) 0.0000341
D) 3,410

PRACTICE: Rewrite 9.98 × 107 in standard form.

A) 0.000000998
B) 0.0000000998
C) 9,980,000,000
D) 99,800,000

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 Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: UNIT CONVERSIONS

● You’ll often see non-S.I. units in problems, so you MUST ______________ them to S.I. units before using equations!

EXAMPLE: Convert 22 lbs into kg.

Quantity Conversion Factors / Ratios
_____ [ ] MASS
ቁ = _____ [ ] 1 kg = 2.2 lbs 1 lb = 450 g 1 oz = 28.4 g
×ቀ ቁ×ቀ
LENGTH 1 km = 0.621 mi 1 ft = 0.305 m 1 in = 2.54 cm

VOLUME 1 gal = 3.79 L 1 mL = 1 cm3 1 L = 1.06 qt

(____________) (_______________________) (__________)

STEPS FOR CONVERTING UNITS

1) Write Given, Target units
2) Write Conversion Factors / Ratios as _____________
- Write fractions to cancel out _____ units with _________ units
3) Multiply all #s on top, all #s on bottom, and solve

EXAMPLE: Convert the following measurements to the desired units.

a) 67.5 mi/hr to m/s

_____ [ ] ×ቀ ቁ×ቀ ቁ×ቀ ቁ = _____ [ ]

b) 100 ft2 to m2

_____ [ ]
×ቀ ቁ×ቀ ቁ = _____ [ ]

● When converting units with exponents, multiply conversion factors as many times as the # in the exponent.

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: Convert 850 ft to km.

Quantity Conversion Factors / Ratios
A) 259 km MASS 1 kg = 2.2 lbs 1 lb = 450 g 1 oz = 28.4 g
B) 0.259 km
LENGTH 1 km = 0.621 mi 1 ft = 0.305 m 1 in = 2.54 cm
C) 2.79 × 106 km
D) 2.79 km VOLUME 1 gal = 3.79 L 1 mL = 1 cm3 1 L = 1.06 qt

PRACTICE: The speed of light is approximately 3.00×108 m/s. Convert this speed to yards/week (yd/wk).

A) 1.84×1013 yd/wk Quantity Conversion Factors / Ratios

B) 1.98×1014 yd/wk
MASS 1 kg = 2.2 lbs 1 lb = 450 g 1 oz = 28.4 g
C) 1.78×1015 yd/wk
D) 1.8×107 yd/wk LENGTH 1 km = 0.621 mi 1 ft = 0.305 m 1 in = 2.54 cm

VOLUME 1 gal = 3.79 L 1 mL = 1 cm3 1 L = 1.06 qt

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: How many gallons are in 1 cubic meter (m3)?

Quantity Conversion Factors / Ratios

MASS 1 kg = 2.2 lbs 1 lb = 450 g 1 oz = 28.4 g

LENGTH 1 km = 0.621 mi 1 ft = 0.305 m 1 in = 2.54 cm

VOLUME 1 gal = 3.79 L 1 mL = 1 cm3 1 L = 1.06 qt

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: SOLVING DENSITY PROBLEMS

● Density is defined as ___________ divided by ______________ ⇒ 𝝆= [Units: ]

(amount of stuff) (amount of space taken up)

- Many problems involve relating density, mass, and volume of geometric shapes, and converting units.

RECTANGULAR SPHERE CYLINDER

PRISM
𝑹
𝒉 𝒉
𝒘 𝑹
𝒍
𝟒
𝑽= 𝒍×𝒘×𝒉 𝑽 = 𝟑 𝝅𝑹𝟑 𝑽 = 𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝒉

EXAMPLE: The average density of Earth is 5500 kg/m3. If we assume it is approximately a sphere with a radius of 3960mi,
what is the mass of Earth? (1 mi ≈ 1609 m)

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Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: A wooden cylinder has a radius of 3.5 cm and a height of 6 cm. If the mass is 161 g, what is the density of the
wooden cylinder?

A) 222 kg/m3
RECTANGULAR SPHERE CYLINDER
B) 3.767×103 kg/m3 PRISM
C) 697 kg/m3 𝑹
𝒉
D) 2440 kg/m3 𝒉
𝒘 𝑹
𝒍
𝟒
𝑽= 𝒍×𝒘×𝒉 𝑽 = 𝟑 𝝅𝑹𝟑 𝑽 = 𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝒉

EXAMPLE: An iron cube has a mass of 0.515 kg. The density of iron is 7.87×103 kg/m3. What is the length of the sides of
the cube?

RECTANGULAR SPHERE CYLINDER

PRISM
𝑹
𝒉 𝒉
𝒘 𝑹
𝒍
𝟒
𝑽= 𝒍×𝒘×𝒉 𝑽 = 𝟑 𝝅𝑹𝟑 𝑽 = 𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝒉

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: Copper has a density of 8.96 g/cm3. If a single copper atom as a mass of 1.055×10-25 kg, what is the volume of
a copper atom?

A) 1.18×10-26 m3
RECTANGULAR SPHERE CYLINDER
B) 9.45×10-25 m3 PRISM
C) 1.18×10-29 m3 𝑹
𝒉
D) 1.18×10-26 cm3 𝒉
𝒘 𝑹
𝒍
𝟒
𝑽= 𝒍×𝒘×𝒉 𝑽 = 𝟑 𝝅𝑹𝟑 𝑽 = 𝝅𝑹𝟐 𝒉

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Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: COUNTING SIGNIFICANT FIGURES (SIG FIGS)

● In Physics, measurements have PRECISION, indicated by the # of digits:

10 kg 10.27 kg
[ LESS | MORE ] precision [ LESS | MORE ] precision

● Not all digits in measurements matter. Significant Figures are the # of digits that ____________________.

15 kg 015 kg
# digits given: _____ # digits given: _____
# digits that matter: _____ # digits that matter: _____

EXAMPLE: Determine the number of significant figures in the number below:

STEPS
0.013200972000 1) Eliminate Leading 0’s

0 2) If # has no decimal, eliminate Trailing 0’s

3) Count remaining digits
_________ 0s _________ 0s _________ 0s - Never eliminate non-zeroes or Middle 0’s

# of Significant Figures: _____

EXAMPLE: How many significant figures are there in each of the following numbers?

a) 100.00 b) 0.0043 c) 31000092

d) 100 e) 73917000 f) 0.00900

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Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: How many significant figures are in each of the following numbers?

a) 0.0032 b) 10790 c) 08.02

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: MATH WITH SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

● When doing math to calculate values, there are additional rules to determine # of Sig Figs:

IF + | – only, Round answer to same [ Sig Figs | Decimal Places ] as # with least [ Sig Figs | Decimal Places ]
IF × | ÷ only, Round answer to same [ Sig Figs | Decimal Places ] as # with least [ Sig Figs | Decimal Places ]
IF + | – and × | ÷, Use P→E→MD→AS and round answer to the most # of [ Sig Figs | Decimal Places ]

EXAMPLE: Write the answer for the following calculations below, expressed in the appropriate # of Sig Figs:

a) 2.56 + 6.2901 b) 5.389 – 4.3 + 0.103

c) 43.5287 ÷ 0.05192 × 0.0023 d) 123.57 × 0.031 + 4.68

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Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: What is the area of a sidewalk that is 2.293 m wide and 90 m long? Write your answer with the correct number
of significant figures.

A) 206.4 m2
B) 210 m2
C) 206.37 m2
D) 200 m2

EXAMPLE: Block A has side lengths 0.50 m × 0.875 m × 2.250 m. Block B has a volume of 2.6 m3. What is the combined
volume of the blocks, expressed with the correct number of significant figures?

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Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: INTRODUCTION TO VECTORS AND SCALARS

● When we take measurements, you always get the ______________ (size of measurement). [ Example: 60°F, 10kg ]
- SOME measurements also have ______________. [ Example: 10m right, 20 miles/hr NORTH ]
- Measurements with direction are [ Vectors | Scalars ]; measurements without direction are [ Vectors | Scalars ]

Measurement Quantity Magnitude? Direction? Vector/Scalar

“Apple weighs 5kg” Mass [ Vector | Scalar ]
“Days are 24hr long” Time [ Vector | Scalar ]
“It’s 60°F outside” Temperature [ Vector | Scalar ]
“I pushed with 100N left” Force [ Vector | Scalar ]
“I walked for 10 ft” [ Vector | Scalar ]
“I walked 10 ft. east” [ Vector | Scalar ]
“I drove at 80 mph” [ Vector | Scalar ]
“I drove 80mph west” [ Vector | Scalar ]

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: DISPLACEMENT VS. DISTANCE

● There are two similar-sounding words to measure how FAR something moves (Length):

DISTANCE (𝒅) DISPLACEMENT (𝜟𝒙

⃗)

10m 10m

6m 6m

- _______________ of all lengths traveled - ______________ in position (___)

- ____________________ between initial & final position

𝑑 = ______________ → Scalar (Magnitude only) Δ𝑥 = ______________ → Vector (Mag. + Dir.)

_____ = ___________ _____ = ___________

EXAMPLE: Find the displacement and total distance traveled from A to B for each of the following situations:

A B
𝒙𝟎 = −𝟐 𝒙=𝟕

B A
𝒙=𝟑 𝒙𝟎 = 𝟕

𝒙=𝟒 𝒙 = 𝟏𝟎
A
B

● Displacements can sometimes be negative, but distances are ALWAYS positive.

- In Physics, (+ / –) signs are usually used to indicate direction!

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Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: Starting from a pillar, you run 140m east (the +x-direction), then turn around. (a) How far west would you have
to walk so that your total distance traveled is 300m? (b) What is the magnitude and direction of your total displacement?

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Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: INTRO TO VELOCITY AND SPEED

● Remember: Distance & Displacement describe how FAR something moves:

A B

DISTANCE 𝒅 = _______________ DISPLACEMENT 𝚫𝒙 = _______________

[SCALAR | VECTOR] [SCALAR | VECTOR]

● Like Distance vs. Displacement, there are two terms to describe how FAST something moves:

SPEED VELOCITY

𝐦 𝐦
= = ቂ𝐬 ቃ = = ቂ𝐬 ቃ
time elapsed time elapsed

→ [ SCALAR | VECTOR ] → [ SCALAR | VECTOR ]

- Speed always ___ or ___ (cannot be negative) - Velocity can be __________

- Negative Velocity: __________ to positive direction

EXAMPLE: You jog 15m in 2s, then 9m backwards in another 2s. Calculate your speed & velocity for the total trip.

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: Beginning from a signpost, you run 60m to the right, then 60m back. The entire trip takes 24 seconds. What is
your speed and velocity for the whole trip?

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: SOLVING CONSTANT AND AVERAGE VELOCITY PROBLEMS

● Velocity is measured between two points (initial → final), so it is often called an _____________ velocity.
𝒗
𝚫𝒕 =4s 𝟑
𝒙𝟎 =0m 𝒙 =8m
𝟐
𝟏
𝒕
4

- Average velocity behaves like a _____________ velocity (NO acceleration), so there’s only 1 equation:

𝚫𝒙
𝒗𝒂𝒗𝒈 = 𝒗 = 𝚫𝒕
→ 𝚫𝒙 = 𝒗𝒂𝒗𝒈 𝚫𝒕 → ________________

EXAMPLE: Solve for the unknown variable in each of the following diagrams:

𝒗 =? 𝒗=𝟑 𝒗 = −𝟒
𝒙𝟎 = 𝟎𝐦 𝒙 = 𝟐𝟎𝐦 𝒙𝟎 = 𝟐𝐦 𝒙 =? 𝒙 = −𝟐𝟎𝐦 𝒙𝟎 =?

𝚫𝒕 = 𝟓𝐬 𝚫𝒕 = 𝟔𝐬 𝐭 𝐟 = 𝟕𝐬 𝐭 𝟎 = 𝟑𝐬

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Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: A baseball pitcher can throw a baseball at 44 m/s. How long does it take for the baseball to travel the roughly
18.5 m to the home plate?

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: CONSTANT VELOCITY WITH MULTIPLE PARTS

● Many problems will have an object moving with different, but constant velocities in multiple parts.
𝚫𝒙
- Remember: For constant velocity, there’s only ONE equation ⇒ 𝒗 = 𝚫𝒕

EXAMPLE: A car travels at a constant 50 m/s forward for 10s, and then at 30m/s for 600m. Calculate:
a) the total distance traveled STEPS
b) the average velocity from start to finish
1) Draw diagram & list variables
2) Write equations for each interval
3) Solve

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: You walk to the right at 3m/s for 8s, then turn around and walk backwards at 2m/s for some unknown time. You
end up 16m to the right from where you started. For long (in seconds) did you walk backwards?

STEPS
1) Draw diagram & list variables
2) Write equations for each interval
3) Solve

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

EXAMPLE: A runner hopes to complete a 100-m race in 20s. After running at a constant 4m/s for 14s, the runner realizes
they need to run faster to win. What must the average velocity of the runner be for the rest of the race to complete it in 20s?

STEPS
1) Draw diagram & list variables
2) Write equations for each interval
3) Solve

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Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

CONCEPT: INTRO TO ACCELERATION

𝚫𝒙
● Remember: Velocity is how FAST your position changes ⇒ 𝒗
⃗ =
𝚫𝒕

- Acceleration is how FAST your __________________ changes ⇒ ⃗𝒂 = Units: [ ]

- 2 ways something can have acceleration → change in velocity’s ______________ or ________________.

● Acceleration is always a vector! No scalar version of acceleration.

Motion Vector Scalar Equivalent

Displacement 𝚫𝒙
⃗ Distance 𝒅

Velocity 𝒗
⃗ Speed 𝒔

Acceleration

EXAMPLE: Your car moves right at 10m/s. After 4s EXAMPLE: You’re jogging right at 6m/s. 3 seconds later
your car is moving right at 30m/s. Calculate the you’re jogging to the left at 6m/s. What is the magnitude
magnitude & direction of the acceleration over the 4s. & direction of your acceleration during the 3s?

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Knight Calc - Physics for Scientists and Engineers
Ch 01: Concepts of Motion

PRACTICE: The brakes of your car can provide an acceleration of 4.6m/s2. You’re speeding at 37.5 m/s and suddenly see
a police car, so you slam the brakes. How long will it take for your car to slow down to the speed limit of 25 m/s?

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